Packing retainer for journal boxes



Aug. 11, 1953 J. D. HERR 2,848,574

PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed Feb. 28, 1952 3 I T I {5 m 4 1 a 3 l 4 {z e 6'44 I 7 IN V EN TOR.

John EH91? F239?! y z s J ATTORJVEYS Patented Aug. 11,1953

UN I TE D S TATES PATENT OFFICE PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXES John D. Herr, Minerva, Ohio Application February 28, 1952, Serial No. 273,963

'10 Claims. 1

The invention relates to retainers for packing in journal boxes, and more particularly to a .device for retaining waste in thejourna'l box of a railway car.

An object of the invention is to provide a packing retainer which may be inserted into the-journal box before the packing or waste is placed therein.

Another object is to provide a packing retainer which may be applied'to any conventional type. of railway car journal box.

A further object is to provide a packing retainer which is not anchored in any part of the journal box, whereby the retaineris free to move in all directions with the journal and will at the same time prevent the top of the packing from being lodged under the journal bearing.

Another important object of the inventionis to provide such a packing retainer having spring means therein to aid in holding the packing into contact with the bottom of the journal at all times and inall conditions of. the packing.

A still further object is to provide .a packing retainer which will completely prevent lateral movement of the packing and prevent the packing from working .out from under the journal.

A further object is to provide a packing retainer in whichthe pcrtionsthereof which'are likely to come into contact with the journal at anytime are formed of non-abrasive material so as not to produce so-called cold cuts upon the journal such-as are caused by conventional types of-retainers.

It is also an objectof the invention to provide a. packing retainer .havingahinged front portion which greatly facilitates the placing of the packing in thejournal box.

The above objects together with otherswhich. will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or whichmay be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved packing retainer in the manner hereinafter described in detail, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a detached, perspective view of a packing retainer embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical, longitudinal sectional view through a journal box, showing the improved packing retainer located therein;

Fig. 3 a transverse, vertical, sectional View through the journal box, taken as on theline 3-3, of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 a horizontal, longitudinal, sectional view, taken as on the line 4-4, Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to the embodiment of the in- 2 vention illustrated, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, a conventional type of journal box for railway cars isindicated generally at 1.0, containing the journal H, and adapted 'to be closed by the usual cover I2.

The bearing !3, located in the top of the journal box, supports the journal vI l, and the bearing is engaged by the wedge M which engages the top. of the journal box, all as in usual. andwell-known practice in the construction of such journal boxes.

The journal extends into the journal box through an opening [5 on the inner side ofthe journal box, said aperture being providedwith any conventional oilseal 16, having a circular opening I I for engaging theenlarged, cylindrical portion l8 of the journal.

Suitable packing, preferably the customary waste, assindicated at: I9, is located in the bottom. of the journal boxqand extends up into engagement with the bottom of thejournal and. with the sides of the journal to .a predetermined p0int,-;1as is customary in the packing of journal boxes.

The. packing l 9' preferably terminates adjacent to the-outer end of the journal, leaving-an open space 20 to serve as a well for excess lubricantr the level of "which is" indicated: at 2|. Thislubricantjis soaked up by the waste, and by capillary attraction it isdrawn up intotheupper portion of the waste and thus deposited upon the rotating journal '|l,'keepingthe journal lubricatedat all times.

The packing retainer embodying the invention is shownzdetached. iniFi-g. '1, and comprises the front and rear arcuate members ,22 and 23 respectively, connected in spaced relation at their lower ends by the central, longitudinal member vM which is preferably in the form ofan upwardly curved steel spring. 7

The end members .22 and 2.3 may be formed of sheet steel orsimilar material and the rear member 23 is prefarably rigidly connected to one,

are forwardly bent as at 30 and the horizontalmembers 3| are rigidly connected thereto asat 3 32, by welding or the like. These horizontal members may be formed of aluminum or other soft metal, or suitable plastic, or other non-abrasive material which will not scratch or cut the journal if they happen to come into contact therewith.

The free forward ends of the horizontal members 3| are adapted for detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member 22. For this purpose a slot 33 may be provided in each upper end of the front arcuate member 22, to receive the free end portion of the adjacent horizontal member 3| which is preferably notched, as at 34, for engaging in the upper end of the adjacent slot 33 and holding the parts in locked position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

There is preferably sufficient spring in the material of which the rear arcuate member 23 is formed to spring the forward ends of the horizontal members 31 slightly upward, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, when these horizontal members are disconnected from the front arcuate member 22.

In order to place packing in the journal box the packing retainer, as shown in Fig. l, is first inserted into the journal box, through the opening 35, the cover [2 being of course held open, the free ends of the horizontal members 3| being disconnected from the front arcuate member 22 so that they will extend slightly upward, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, and the hinged front arcuate member 22 may be swung forwardly against the bottom of the journal box.

With the packing retainer in this position, the

waste I9 is then inserted through the opening 35 of the journal box and packed around the underside of the journal, against the rear arcuate member 23 and against the undersides of the horizontal members 3| of the packing retainer.

When sufficient packing has been properly placed around the underside of the journal, the hinged front arcuate member 22 is then swung upward upon its hinge and detachably connected to the ends of the horizontal members 3|, so that the packing is retained as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

From the above it will be obvious that the packing retainer is not anchored in any part of the journal box, but is free to move in all directions with the journal and will at the same time prevent the top of the packing or waste from moving up around the top of the journal and lodging under the bearing.

It will also be seen that the longitudinal spring member 24 will urge the packing upward into contact with the bottom of the journal at all times and in all conditions of the packing.

Furthermore, it will be obvious that the improved packing retainer will completely prevent lateral movement of the packing and prevent the packing from working out from under the journal.

At all times the packing will be prevented from vertical displacement by means of the horizontal members 3|, while the front and rear arcuate members 22 and 23 will prevent horizontal displacement of the packing.

By merely releasing the front arcuate member and lowering it, the packing can be set up and serviced.

This device will prevent easy removal and consequent loss by theft, or carelessness on the part of workmen in foreign or home railroads during servicing operations.

, In the foregoing description, certain terms have 4 been used for brevity, clearness, and. understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising flat, transversely disposed front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal for holding packing introduced into the journal box against horizontal displacement, a central longitudinal member connecting the lower portions of the arcuate members, horizontal non-abrasive members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member adapted for arrangement within the journal box on opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

2. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising flat, transversely disposed front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal for holding packing introduced into the journal box against horizontal displacement, a central longitudinal member connecting the lower portions of the arcuate members, horizontal fiat spring members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member adapted for arrangement within the journal box on opposite, sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, so that the horizontal members can be moved to raised and lower positions, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

3. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising fiat, transversely disposed front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal for holding packing introduced into the journal box against horizontal displacement, a central longitudinal member connecting the lower portions of the arcuate members, horizontal flat spring members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member adapted for arrangement within the journal box on opposite sides of the journal for holding packing against vertical displacement and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the, arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing,

4. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal, a central longitudinal upwardly curved member connecting the lower portions of the arcuate members, horizontal members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member for arrangement within the journal box on opposite sides of the journal and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing Vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing, and the central longitudinal upwardly curved member holding the packing against the bottom of the journal.

5. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising front and rear arcuate members to be arranged Within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal, a central longitudinal spring member connecting the lower portions of the arcuate members, horizontal members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member for holding packing against vertical displacement on opposite sides of the journal and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing, and the central longitudinal spring member holding the packing against the bottom of the journal.

6. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal, a central longitudinal member rigidly connected to the lower portion of the rear arcuate member, means hingedly connecting the lower portion of the front arcuate member to said central longitudinal member, horizontal members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member for holding packing against vertical displacement on opposite sides of the journal and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

7. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal, a central longitudinal member rigidly connected to the lower portion of the rear arcuate member, means hingedly connecting the lower portion of the front arcuate member to said central longitudinal member, horizontal fiat spring members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member adapted for arrangement within the journal box on opposite sides of the journal and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, so that the horizontal members can be moved to raised and lowered positions, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

8. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal, a central longitudinal member rigidly connected to the lower portion of the rear arcuate member, means hingedly connecting the lower portion of the front arcuate member to said central longitudinal member, horizontal flat members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member adapted for arrangement within the journal box on opposite sides of the journal ind having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted. for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing.

9. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal, a central longitudinal upwardly curved member rigidly connected to the lower portion of the rear arcuate member, means hingedly connecting the lower portion of the front arcuate member to said central longitudinal member, horizontal members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate members adapted for arrangement within the journal box on opposite sides of the journal and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing, and the central longitudinal upwardly curved member holding the packing against the bottom of the journal.

10. A packing retainer for journal boxes comprising front and rear arcuate members to be arranged within the journal box near the opposite ends of the journal, a central longitudinal spring member rigidly connected to the lower portion of the rear arcuate member, means hingedly connecting the lower portion of the front arcuate member to said central longitudinal member, horizontal members connected to the upper ends of the rear arcuate member adapted for arrangement within the journal box on opposite sides of the journal and having detachable connection with the upper ends of the front arcuate member, the horizontal members being adapted for preventing vertical displacement of the packing and the arcuate members being adapted for preventing horizontal displacement of the packing, and the central longitudinal spring member holding the packing against the bottom of the journal.

JOHN D. HERR.

Name Date Head a Mar. 2, 1943 Number 

